Notes

GDG 104

The idea of concealing love within his bosom is a common conceit in Dafydd's poetry. In the poem 'Secret Love' (78) he describes how the girl's love nested between his ribs unseen by the jealous husband, just as a bird makes its nest in a secluded spot, and how he so carefully concealed her love in vain. In the opening couplets of 'Love's Needles' Morfudd's love is portrayed as a foster–son who has tormented him for nine years:

There was never a lad whose long companionship was more unbeneficial to his foster–father. A spoilt lad, base murderer, a worthless foster–son was he to him. (100.5–8)

Here the image is more fully explored, so that the whole poem is based on the extended metaphor of love as a foster–son. It seems very likely that once more he is describing his frustrated love for Morfudd. Through a single complex image he expresses all the ambiguity of his feelings towards her, from hope to utter despair. The child which the girl has put in his care demands his constant attention; it is spoilt, restless and unruly, at once dear and despised, but the poet is yet to receive any reward for his trouble. The intricacy of the imagery is matched by the versecraft. Lines 1–24 are characterized by the letter m and lines 25–34 by the letter n and the negatives Ni / Na, and Mau fygwth 'this is my threat' in the closing couplet is an ironic echo of the poem's opening words, Mau gariad 'Love is mine'.

Similar images, though less developed, are to be found in Ovid's Amores and in French courtly–love poetry, see Edwards, DGIA 227n. It is likely, however, that the foster–son metaphor was suggested by a custom common in medieval noble society.

19–20. Meithrin chwileryn ... / Ym mynwes   'To nurture a serpent in a bosom'. The proverb is quoted by William Salesbury in Oll Synnwyr pen Kembero ygyd (1547) and by John Davies in his Dictionarium Duplex (1632). Cf. Chaucer, Merchant's Tale 542 Lyk to naddre in bosom sly vntrewe.

31–4. These lines may contain a playful reference to the poet's penis. Cf. 'The Penis' (85), especially lines 41–4.

35. hyd Deifi   As far as the river Teifi in south–west Wales; cf. 31.10 O Deifi hyd Fenai 'from the River Teifi to the River Menai'.